From Broken to Blessed: Finding Hope on the Bipolar Spectrum

When you first hear “From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum,” you can almost feel the tension in those words. How can a condition that brings so much pain, chaos, and loss ever feel “blessed”?

In her talk From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum, author and advocate Sara Schley shares her decades-long journey of misdiagnosis, struggle, and eventually right diagnosis and support. Her story challenges stereotypes about bipolar disorder and insists on something radical: people on the bipolar spectrum are not “broken” problems to fix, but whole human beings who deserve understanding, respect, and community.

At the Dakota Bipolar Awareness Foundation, we hold a similar belief. Our mission is to honor Dakota Millen’s life by being a catalyst for bipolar awareness, early detection, family support, and reduced stigma across the Okanagan.

Watch the talk: From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum

We encourage you to take time to watch the full video and then come back to reflect on what stood out for you:

“Bipolar” Isn’t One Thing: Understanding the Spectrum

One of the most powerful ideas in From Broken to Blessed is that bipolar isn’t a single, rigid diagnosis—it exists on a spectrum.

For some people, that spectrum might include:

Periods of deep depression that feel heavy, hopeless, and exhausting
Times of elevated mood—feeling unusually wired, driven, or invincible
High productivity followed by burnout or “crashing”
Long stretches where things feel almost okay, but something is still off

Sara’s story mirrors what many experience: years of symptoms that don’t fully fit into a neat box, confusion about what’s “wrong,” and labels that never quite match the lived reality.

Seeing bipolar as a spectrum helps shift the conversation from “Do I have this exact label?” to “What is happening in my brain and body—and how can I get the right help?”

The “Broken” Story: Misdiagnosis, Stigma, and Silence

Before things felt “blessed,” they often felt irreparably broken.

In the talk, Sara describes how long it took to receive the correct diagnosis and effective treatment. This long journey is heartbreakingly common: years of trial-and-error with medications, being told conflicting things by different clinicians, and trying to make sense of symptoms that don’t line up with simple labels.

The “broken” story often sounds like:

“Why can’t I just be normal like everyone else?”
“I’m too much for the people around me.”
“Maybe this is all my fault.”

On top of that, stigma can make it feel dangerous to speak honestly:

Fear of losing a job, housing, or relationships
Worry that people will only see the diagnosis instead of the person
Shame about needing medication or support

At Dakota Foundation, we hear versions of this story often. Many families in the Okanagan tell us they didn’t know where to turn, or they felt they had to manage everything alone. Part of our purpose is to help people realize: you are not alone, and you are absolutely not broken.

The “Blessed” Story: Right Diagnosis, Right Support, Real Hope

So where does “blessed” come in?

In From Broken to Blessed, Sara explains that finally receiving the right bipolar-spectrum diagnosis—and the right treatment—was life-changing. It gave her a framework to understand her past, tools to manage her present, and hope for her future.

“Blessed” doesn’t mean:

Bipolar magically disappears
Life becomes easy
There are never hard days again

Instead, “blessed” looks more like:

Clarity – finally having language and a diagnosis that makes sense
Stability – finding a treatment and support plan that works
Community – connecting with others who truly understand the journey
Purpose – using experience to advocate, educate, or support others

For many people, getting to this place requires:

Compassionate, knowledgeable mental health care
Supportive family and friends willing to learn and listen
Safe spaces to talk openly about bipolar without judgment

That’s the heart of what Dakota Foundation is working toward in the Okanagan: a community where people can move from “broken” to “blessed” with support around them, not in isolation.

What This Talk Teaches Families, Friends, and Allies

If you’re a parent, partner, sibling, or friend of someone on the bipolar spectrum, From Broken to Blessed offers some important reminders:

1. Believe their experience.
Even if you don’t fully understand what bipolar feels like from the inside, taking someone’s experience seriously is deeply healing.

2. Learn about the spectrum.
Understanding that bipolar shows up differently for different people can reduce frustration and blame. It’s not “just a mood” or “just stress”—it’s a complex condition involving brain chemistry, life experiences, and more.

3. Separate the person from the diagnosis.
Your loved one is not only bipolar. They are creative, thoughtful, funny, stubborn, kind, complicated—a whole person who also lives with a mental health condition.

4. Make space for both pain and gifts.
Many people on the spectrum describe intense creativity, deep empathy, and a capacity for insight that comes from living through extremes. We can honour those strengths and acknowledge the real suffering that can come with the condition.

You Are Not Alone: Support in the Okanagan

If this video and this blog feel close to home—whether for you or someone you love—please know there is help and community around you.

The Dakota Bipolar Awareness Foundation exists to:

Raise awareness about bipolar disorder and related mental health challenges
Serve as a community hub for information, services, and support in the Okanagan
Fund early detection initiatives, treatment pathways, and family support
Reduce stigma so more people feel safe reaching out for help

On our Resources / Need Help? page, you’ll find local organizations and mental health clinics in the Okanagan that offer assessment, counselling, and integrated care for individuals and families.

If you feel moved by talks like From Broken to Blessed and want to help create more understanding and support in our region, you can also:

Donate to Dakota Foundation to help fund education, early intervention, and local services
Explore our News & Updates blog for more stories, education, and upcoming events

Do You Recognize Yourself in This Story

If Sara’s journey in From Broken to Blessed feels uncomfortably familiar, you’re not failing—and you’re not overreacting. Reaching out for help is a brave, hopeful step.

You might consider:

Talking to your family doctor or a mental health professional about your mood, energy, sleep, and history
Bringing a trusted friend or family member to your appointment if that feels safer
Sharing resources like this video with people close to you to help them understand

If you are in immediate crisis—feeling unsafe, at risk of harming yourself, or unable to cope—please contact your local emergency services or crisis line right away. You deserve support now, not later.

From Broken to Blessed… and Held by Community

From Broken to Blessed on the Bipolar Spectrum reminds us that the story of bipolar disorder does not have to end in silence, shame, or isolation. With understanding, accurate diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and a caring community, people on the bipolar spectrum can build lives that feel grounded, meaningful, and yes—sometimes even blessed.

At Dakota Foundation, we are honored to walk alongside individuals and families in the Okanagan who are somewhere on this journey—from confusion to clarity, from broken to blessed, and from alone to supported.

DONATE